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First post, by Huggybaby

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DOSBox comes with Gravis Ultrasound support, but did you know that you might need THESE files to really make it work?

Read on, and discover...

The ULTRASND Directory, Demystified
How I Learned To Completely Install ALL Gravis Ultrasound (GUS) Files and Pro Patches Lite Upgrades, Including Windows 95, With No Errors

Bottom Line: GUS 4.10--->4.11, +Mega-EM 3.10, +Pro Patches Lite 1.50--->1.61 !

---------------------------------------------------------------------
PREPARING TO INSTALL, Part 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
(YOU CAN SKIP THE INSTALL IF YOU WANT TO.
You can download this FULLY UPDATED ULTRASND FOLDER and just point DOSBox to one of the folders inside it.
It contains the stock GUS 4.11 and the updated Pro Patches Lite 1.61 folders. If you want to try something earlier you can learn to roll your own by continuing...)

To begin, DOWNLOAD THIS FILE someplace you can find it, like your desktop, then extract it with WinRar or 7-zip or equivalent.

The download contains six folders:

---GRAVIS DRIVERS---
a) GUS 4.10 (GUS410)
b) GUS 4.11 (GUS411)
c) Mega-Em 3.10 (MEGAEM310)
---PRO PATCHES LIGHT (LITE?)---
d) Pro Patches Light 1.5 (PPL150)
e) Pro Patches Light 1.6 (PPL160)
f) Pro Patches Light 1.61 update (PPL161)

which are all available via Gravis' ftp site or other internet locations like vogons.zetafleet.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
PREPARING TO INSTALL, Part 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Now make a directory called C:\DOS.

! Make an empty text file in this new directory called C:\DOS\autoexec.bat. ! Ignore any file name extension warning, it is harmless.
This prevents an installation error later.

Copy the six folders you just extracted into C:\DOS.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
PREPARING TO INSTALL, Part 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In DOSBox make sure your DOSBox hard drive C: is set to C:\DOS

Next make sure that DOSBox Gravis Ultrasound support is turned on, otherwise you won't be able to install because the GUS installer won't detect your Gravis card---because it's not being emulated by DOSBox!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLING GUS 4.10
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Now you can set DOSBox to run C:\DOS\GUS410\INSTALL.EXE.

When you run Install.exe, FIRST choose Restore *.*
(DON'T choose Install first---you'll get a couple of extra files this way instead).

Choose Restore, not Install to get a few extra files
34oee1f.png

Restore everything with *.*
27ywsk5.png

Accept the default drive
m97xj6.png

And default directory
Ya7icGQ.png5

When it works it looks like this:
8QrbTuf.png

Back at the main menu, now run Install. Since you Restored already, it goes rapidly.
6backat.png

Accept the defaults for drive and directory again.

When it can't find Windows, type in C:\ULTRASND\WINDOWS
(this nets you the Windows 95 files, not needed for DOSBox).
cantfindwindows.png

Success:
success.png

At the Setup screen, exit out. (Don't try to run Express or Custom Setup!)
at_the_setup.png

---------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLING GUS 4.11
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Install with C:\DOS\GUS411\INSTALL.EXE, using the same steps as with 4.10.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLING Mega-Em 3.10
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Next copy all the files from your Mega-Em 3.10 folder into your newly created ULTRASND directory.

Then run MESETUP.EXE.

Press Enter once to get to the Main Menu
press_enter_once.png

! Next select "Save and Exit" ONLY !
(Select ONLY "Save and Exit", the proper configuration files will still be written.)
saveandexit.png

NOTE: If your installation of Megaem is interrupted or goes badly, delete "megaem.cfg" before reinstalling. Otherwise you will receive the error message: "No VCPI interface found" and you won't able to run the megaem310 installer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
TESTING GUS 4.11
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In DOSBox GUS settings, set your ULTRASND directory (you have one now!) to C:\DOS\ULTRASND.

Run MIDIDEMO.BAT (in your C:\DOS\ULTRASND directory)
mididemo.png

and you should hear smooth undistorted playback of tunes.
ultrasnd1.png

---------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVING GUS 4.11
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a good place to save your ULTRASND directory.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLING PRO PATCHES LITE (LIGHT?) 1.50
---------------------------------------------------------------------
! Make sure drive C: is still set to C:\DOS !

! Set a DOS environment variable PROPATS=C:\PPL150 !

! Make sure your ULTRASND directory is set to C:\DOS\ULTRASND !

Run C:\DOS\PPL150\PATMENU\PATMENU.EXE (NOT "W"PATMANU.exe)

You should see a menu with 22 options (1-9, A-I, S,P,Q,R). Press "S" to install all the Propatches.

You should see patches being copied. Press "X" to select Exit when done.
patches.png

---------------------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLING PRO PATCHES LITE 1.60 and 1.61
---------------------------------------------------------------------
! Here is where that blank autoexec.bat file comes in, you'll get an error without it !

! Make sure drive C: is still set to C:\DOS !

! Set a DOS environment variable PROPATS=C:\PPL160 !

! Make sure your ULTRASND directory is set to C:\DOS\ULTRASND !

Move the nine files from PPL161 into PPL160, overwriting. You've just updated!

From the now updated PPL160 folder, run C:\DOS\PPL160\INSTALL.EXE.
(Don't run PATMENU.EXE this time! It's redundant and won't extract all the files.)

You should see a red screen for the propatches lite v1.60 installer. Press "Y".
redscreen.png

You should see a "Processing Patch Files" window.
pp161working.png

! When finished, DON'T CTRL-ALT-DEL!, instead CTRL-F9 to close DOSBox. !
whenfinished.png

If this last update went properly, a new autoexec.bat file should have been created that says

@REM ===== PPLT INITIALIZATION ==========
@SET PROPATS=C:\PPL160
@REM ===== PPLT INITIALIZATION ENDS =====

and you should have a backup called AUTOEXEC.PPL.

You're Finished! The Entire updated ULTRASND directory size is less than 20 MB.

Now zip it up and save it somewhere! Also be sure to run Mididemo.bat again, and listen to the difference!

Another Procedure by Huggybaby, tested Using DOSBox 0.72 and Windows XP

How it was done: I slowed DOSBox way down to expose certain error messages. There was at least one place I received different error messages randomly. I used D.O.G., and that caused some corruption problems too, but I know what to look for now. I read all the posts on this forum, wondering why I was seeing errors not reported. I read all the text files available looking for clues.
I went to bed several nights sure I had the procedure nailed down. The next day, starting over from scratch, dammit another error.
I think I've made redundant everything you should check at each step. This procedure has been through a lot of revisions and took a long time to understand and finalize. I hope you find it useful.
I used WinMerge to compare my before and after ULTRASND directories to learn how each change in procedure was rendered. I used Hoversnap to grab images, xs.to for image hosting and mediafire for file hosting.

Huggybaby

Last edited by Huggybaby on 2015-05-05, 16:43. Edited 14 times in total.

Reply 1 of 146, by MiniMax

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Great post. Any info on the legality of downloading these files? If they all check out, I recommend that this guide be moved to the DOSBox guides section and made sticky.

DOSBox 60 seconds guide | How to ask questions
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Reply 2 of 146, by Huggybaby

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MiniMax wrote:

Great post. Any info on the legality of downloading these files? If they all check out, I recommend that this guide be moved to the DOSBox guides section and made sticky.

Thanks. 😀
I think if you own a GUS card it's fine. DOSBox doesn't bundle them due to some kind of licensing.
I'll remove any offending links of course. I got them from two places---a download from the GUS link here (the one where the ProPatsLite developer said he was glad his files were still around), and the original 4.10 files came from whatever ftp site still exists for Gravis.

Huggybaby

Reply 3 of 146, by njaydg

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Outstanding work, Huggybaby! Superb! Bravo!

I vote for sticky as well!

This is a must have for all the users that are interested in using GUS and never had any previous experience with it (like me).

Thank you so much and congrats for all the effort!
😎

Reply 4 of 146, by ADDiCT

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Yeah, great post! One question, though: could someone recommend some cool stuff that can be done with DOSBox' GUS emulation? Like, for example, games with enhanced GUS support, special apps, etc.?

I used to own a GUS back in the DOS days, but i can't remember why i actually bought it. I know there's some demos that only run with a GUS, and obviously, the music in some games should sound a lot better with the GUS MIDI patches than with OPL sound. Some info about what can be done with the GUS (and what might sound better than SB/GM) would make this thread a complete source of GUS-related information.

Here's a link to the Wikipedia GUS page for some basic information, and the MobyGames list of games with GUS support.

Last edited by ADDiCT on 2007-10-24, 10:50. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 6 of 146, by Qbix

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please note that gus emulation works without these patches as well.
These just add extra stuff to games that support it. It's not required

Water flows down the stream
How to ask questions the smart way!

Reply 7 of 146, by lightmaster

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Huggybaby wrote:
Thanks. :) I think if you own a GUS card it's fine. DOSBox doesn't bundle them due to some kind of licensing. I'll remove any of […]
Show full quote
MiniMax wrote:

Great post. Any info on the legality of downloading these files? If they all check out, I recommend that this guide be moved to the DOSBox guides section and made sticky.

Thanks. 😀
I think if you own a GUS card it's fine. DOSBox doesn't bundle them due to some kind of licensing.
I'll remove any offending links of course. I got them from two places---a download from the GUS link here (the one where the ProPatsLite developer said he was glad his files were still around), and the original 4.10 files came from whatever ftp site still exists for Gravis.

Huggybaby

Thank you!

Reply 8 of 146, by ErikGG

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Great work,

I'm going to see if some games that don't like the GUS, work with the patch in place.

I used D.O.G., and that caused some corruption problems too, but I know what to look for now.

What did it do?
I used a single profile configured for installing all installations, with C set to C:\DOSGames and D set to D:\. I then set the Environment Variable in the profile and I had set the Ultrasound dir to my ultrasound dir (NOTE in D.O.G. this is the Windows dir not the DOSBox dir, D.O.G. converts it for you), i also created the Autoexec.bat in my C. Then I started the installers. This worked.

Erik.

Read the new FAQ.doc

Reply 9 of 146, by Huggybaby

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ErikkGG,

Your install setup is probably more elegant than mine. 😀 I'm not a DOSBox pro so I probably used too many steps. I'm going to study your notes...
I'm not sure what exactly causes the problems with D.O.G. It happens when I use only one profile for the entire install routine, just changing the .exe's as I go along, so I think it may have something to do with the .conf files, especially if I save them in the game directory and not a separate location, and use the same .conf for each .exe.

I also have to keep checking my DOS drive, sometimes it will point to a different place when I change my exe.

If I find a way to replicate the trouble I'll let you know. It doesn't feel entirely random but I haven't exactly figured out cause and effect yet.

Still, D.O.G. is the only frontend I use and I check for new versions every week...

Qbix said "please note that gus emulation works without these patches as well. These just add extra stuff to games that support it. It's not required" Hmm, you mean I installed all this for nothing? 😀 I thought at least 4.10 had to be installed.

ih8registrations: I don't know how to test MegaEm. Since it enables GUS to emulate SB, I guess I'm using the DOSBox SB emulation instead. If anyone can tell me how to test it I will.

My procedure is designed to extract every possible file, but if I wanted to make it as short as possible I would leave out MegaEm and Windows and PPL as well. I would also install 4.10 and 4.11 rather than restore first.

ADDiCT:
4.10 Release Notes:

         SOFTWARE TITLES DIRECTLY SUPPORTING GRAVIS ULTRASOUND/MAX
==========================================================
As of December 1994

Publisher Title Retail Release
===================================================================
21st Century Pinball Fantasies Shipping
Access Under a Killing Moon Shipping
Accolade Star Control II Shipping
Hardball 4 December
Brett Hull Hockey February
Apogee Raptor: The Shadow of Darkness Shipping
Hocus Pocus Shipping
Wacky Wheels Shipping
Boppin Shipping
Bethesda Delta V Shipping
Terminator: Rampage Shipping
The Arena Shipping
Road to the Final Four Shipping
Crystal Dynamics The Horde Shipping
Dynamix Alien Legacy Shipping
Electronic Arts SSN-21 Sea Wolf Shipping
NHL Hockey CD Shipping
FIFA Soccer Shipping
Relentless Shipping
Epic MegaGames Jazz Jack Rabbit Shipping
Zone 66 Shipping
Epic Pinball Shipping
One Must Fall 2097 Shipping
Flair Software Paradox Shipping
Grandslam Nick Faldo's Championship Golf Shipping
Reunion Shipping
Seventh Sword of Mendor Shipping
Football USA Shipping
Motor Mania Shipping
Assassin Shipping
Hollyware Entertainment Johnny Quest Shipping
Id Software DOOM Shipping
DOOM II Shipping
Impressions The Blue & The Grey Shipping
Interplay Star Reach December
Descent Shipping
Blackthorne Shipping
Creature Shock Shipping
Knowledge Adventure Kid Zoo Shipping
Kid Zoo (CD) Shipping
Under Sea Adventure Shipping
Dino 3D Adventure Shipping
3-D Body Adventure Shipping
American Adventure Shipping
Bugs Shipping
Speed Shipping
Science Adventure Shipping
Looking Glass Tech. Flight Unlimited January
Lucasfilm Games Rebel Assault Shipping
Merit Software Harvester February
Cyber Judas December
Microleague Silver Ball Shipping
Microprose UFO Shipping
Mirage Jack the Ripper Shipping
Show last 42 lines
Musicware               Piano                           Shipping
New World Computing Empire Deluxe Shipping
Inherit the Earth Shipping
Zephyr Shipping
Ocean Inferno January TFX CD Shipping
Origin System Shock Shipping
Wing Commander III Shipping
Psygnosis Hexx Shipping
Ecstatica Shipping
Microcosm Shipping
Hired Guns Shipping
Theatre of Death Shipping
QQP The Pure War Shipping
Sales Curve The Lawnmower Man Shipping
Cyber War Shipping
Sierra On-Line Leisure Suit Larry VI Shipping
Sir-Tech Jagged Alliance January
Star Trail Shipping
Spectrum Holobyte Star Trek: TNG January
SSI Darksun Shipping
Archon Ultra Shipping
Alkadim - The Genie's Curse Shipping
Serf City - Life is Feudal Shipping
Great Naval Battles 2 Shipping
Tank Construction Set Shipping
Alien Logic Shipping
Cyclones Shipping
Wake of the Ravager Shipping
Panzer General Shipping
Twelve Tone Systems Cake Walk Pro V2.x Shipping
Virgin Voyeur Shipping
The 11th Hour February
------------------------------------------------------------------

Advanced Gravis also maintains and updates a patch library. For games that
were previously released without UltraSound native support, consumers can
either download or contact Advanced Gravis to obtain a file that will
provide native support. These games include:

Gabriel Knights, Police Quest 4, Quest for Glory 3, Leisure Suit Larry 6
Ultima 8 - Pagan, IndyCar Racing, The 7th Guest, Sim City, Sim Farm,
Sim City 2000, Masters of Orion, Dark Legions

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. 😎

Reply 10 of 146, by wd

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Hmm, you mean I installed all this for nothing?

Maybe read about what GUS patches actually do. They're not worthless,
but many (?) games don't need them/have their built-in patchset, whatever.

MegaEm runs fine in dosbox with emm386 btw., at least it starts up.

Reply 13 of 146, by ErikGG

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Still, D.O.G. is the only frontend I use and I check for new versions every week...

Did you see the new Developers Forum section on the D.O.G. Forum?
There you can find new versions as I implement new features. This is much faster then uploading a new compilation every week.

Erik.

Read the new FAQ.doc

Reply 15 of 146, by Huggybaby

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ErikGG wrote:
Great work, […]
Show full quote

Great work,

I'm going to see if some games that don't like the GUS, work with the patch in place. .....
.....
I used a single profile configured for installing all installations, with C set to C:\DOSGames and D set to D:\. I then set the Environment Variable in the profile and I had set the Ultrasound dir to my ultrasound dir (NOTE in D.O.G. this is the Windows dir not the DOSBox dir, D.O.G. converts it for you),...

Erik.

I'll be interested to hear what you find out about those games. Some games had GUS patches released later that would require separate finding and downloading.

I don't see a need to set a D drive.

I don't understand the Windows/Ultrasnd directory conversion you're talking about, but it's hopefully more convenient than confusing. 😀

I don't know if you mean this either, but I can only set propats= one directory at a time or I get an error, so I have to change it for each propats version.

I'm just wondering if there's a way to make my procedure shorter, or to create more files. For all I know there's a whole 'nother group of files that never popped out, and without an error so I didn't know it.

I got logged into your forum too. The latest DOG beta has some fancy menu items...

Thanks,

Huggybaby

Reply 17 of 146, by ErikGG

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I tested the patch with Warcraft 2 and Fallout (Thats why I mounted the D drive). Seems there is no change in the sound quality though with these games.

I don't understand the Windows/Ultrasnd directory conversion you're talking about, but it's hopefully more convenient than confusing.

The UltraSnd directory in the conf file needs to be a DOSBox Shortname. In D.O.G. all directories are Windows longnames.

So mounting C:\DOSGames\ as C:\ and setting your Ultra Sound Directory in D.O.G. to C:\DOSGames\UltraSound\, then D.O.G. will create a conf file with the UltraSnd = C:\UltraS~1\

I don't know if you mean this either, but I can only set propats= one directory at a time or I get an error, so I have to change it for each propats version.

Thats true, DOS System Variables can only be set one time at a time.

The latest DOG beta has some fancy menu items...

You mean the menu item to create CDRom Images? Well this menu item is one of those things that won't show up in the released version very soon. This is because the image creator isn't too stable as of yet.

Or do you mean the new "Edit DOSBox feature" in wich you are able to edit most select lists and or add new CVS features? This feature is almost completed and will be part of D.O.G. 1.54.

Currently I'm adding all features supported by Ykhwongs build.

Erik.

Read the new FAQ.doc

Reply 18 of 146, by Huggybaby

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Ahh, thanks for the explanation about directory naming, now I understand.

Well, I noticed the Customize Toolbar option, I don't know if it's new...every program should have that feature!
I did notice the CDRom image option too. 😀 Why would it be advantageous to burn in DOG instead of a normal burning app?

I wish I knew some more games where these patches make a difference.

OSH, Try running DOSBox in windowed mode if you're not. Once you escape out of the DOSBox window, close it like any other. Or if you see the DOSBox icon at the bottom of your screen, right click there and Cose.

Reply 19 of 146, by ErikGG

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Well, I noticed the Customize Toolbar option, I don't know if it's new...every program should have that feature!
I did notice the CDRom image option too. Happy Why would it be advantageous to burn in DOG instead of a normal burning app?

I think I added the Customize Toolbar option in D.O.G. 1.53

D.O.G. won't support burning but I want D.O.G. to be able to create all sorts of Images like CDRom ISO and Bin Images and Floppy/harddrive boch images that are compatible with DOSBox.
So that new users can create Images as an advanced user can. This is especially true for harddrive images as I even don't know how to do that (Haven't tried though).

Erik.

Read the new FAQ.doc